The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 got here to an in depth with Chennai Tremendous Kings beating Gujarat Titans within the ultimate. With the 16th version of the IPL, the profession of veteran batter Ambati Rayudu additionally got here to an in depth. Whereas his Crew India stint had ended just a few years in the past, Rayudu stop all types of the sport after the IPL. Sharing some fascinating anecdotes from Rayudu’s profession, former India batter Aakash Chopra recalled the CSK star’s teenage days, saying he was chosen with the hope of being the ‘subsequent Sachin Tendulkar’.
“Let me share a little bit anecdote about my first assembly with Ambati Rayudu. It was in 2003, it was India A’s tour to the West Indies. A small child named Ambati Rayudu was picked there. He would have in all probability been 16 years outdated at the moment,” Chopra stated in a video on his YouTube channel.
“He was chosen with the hope that he would be the subsequent Sachin Tendulkar, that the boy is extraordinarily gifted. He’s just like the prodigy, that he might bat, fields extraordinarily effectively and will bowl too,” he added.
The cricketer-turned-pundit revealed that the senior gamers within the staff got particular directions to maintain Rayudu as he was thought-about a prodigy.
“Ashok Malhotra was our coach there and there have been particular instructions to him from the selectors to maintain the child as a result of he’s India’s future. VVS Laxman was the captain on the tour and he had seen the child taking part in in Hyderabad. So he was impressed however if you find yourself making the staff you’ll want to take all issues into consideration.
“Our staff did not have a single off-spinner. It was an especially fascinating staff choice. We had Murali Kartik as a left-arm spinner and Amit Mishra as a leg-spinner. In batting, we had Gautam Gambhir, Connor Williams, myself, VVS Laxman and Abhijit Kale. So Ambati Rayudu received an opportunity to play in such a staff,” he revealed.
Because of this, Rayudu ended up having a horrible time as a spinner.
“The poor man received to bat very low within the order and he was requested to bowl off-spin in between, which the poor man was unable to do. He was typically pitching the ball on his personal legs or the batters’ legs, full tosses at different occasions, and wicket-taking balls in between.”
“I bear in mind the short-leg and midwicket fielders was barely scared each time Ambati got here to bowl as a result of the West Indies guys used to hit very laborious. So that you have been scared since you have been within the firing line. I was at brief leg, so I used to ask him to not bowl brief.”
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